The two-seat roadster EV won’t go into production as is, but a mass-market car based on it is all but guaranteed, Audi CEO claims.
The Concept C wears a two-piece retractable hardtop and cuts a rather striking figure resembling that of mid-engined sports cars. Pronounced wheel arches and a slanted roof make it look like a classic, but the company points out that the body shape was dictated by a traction battery installed within the wheelbase.
On the one hand, the prototype looks like it wants to revive Audi’s motorsports heritage on a modern platform. On the other hand, it has distinct futuristic cues that should find use in the Ingolstadt automaker’s next releases. For example, the slim horizontal headlights and taillights composed of four sections each have already been approved for production, says Audi CEO Gernot Döllner. The front fascia with its intricate combination of horizontal and vertical lines may also become a major stylistic feature.
Just like the exterior, the cabin mixes retro with modern. It has plenty of physical buttons and controls and boasts large door handles made out of metal. There is no infotainment display in view, but the company admits that the 10.4-inch panel simply folds down and disappears when not in use.
Speaking about the concept, Döllner stressed that Audi never made design studies like this one just for show. The obvious implication is that we’ll eventually see a production car like this emerge, although when remains a good question. It will likely be at least partly electric and slot between the TT and the R8 in terms of size.
